“In recent days, having received a number of personal inquiries about what to do with planned long-distance trips to African countries with exotic names and to vacation destinations that are clearer to me: Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, etc., I rushed to look for recommendations from official institutions,” said R. Lingienė.
These advise to avoid close contact with sick or suspected smallpox persons, not to have sexual relations with many partners, especially if it is suspected that they may be infected, not to share clothes, bedding, to observe hand hygiene and the like.
“But that’s not enough!”, R. Lingienė wrote. “I don’t think anyone in their right mind would travel there to seek adventure.”
The director of the Vilnius Department of the National Public Health Center (NVSC) shared recommendations on how she would behave if she were to travel to a place where there may be or has been infected with the smallpox virus, or even a registered outbreak of it.
However, R. Lingienė emphasized that the advice is only her personal opinion, not related to the position of the competent authorities, and when official recommendations appeared, she strongly suggested following them.
“But after all, life does not stand still, we travel, work, vacation, and if we are properly prepared, we will feel and be safer even in difficult situations in which we may unexpectedly find ourselves.”
So, before entering Mother Africa I:
1. I would get vaccinated if the vaccinations belonged to me. Vaccination is required at least 28 days before travel.
2. I would choose a really good hotel here. In this case, there would be peace of mind regarding cleanliness, hygiene standards and other risks.
3. I wouldn’t approach monkeys, squirrels, all kinds of rats out there. I would just avoid any contact with wild animals. And with pets too.
4. I wouldn’t go on adventures in the jungle, in local villages, no matter how you want it, it’s the best way to avoid unnecessary risks.
5. I would not share my personal belongings with anyone or borrow them from others.
6. Of course, no kissing, flirting or anything else with the locals or tourists you meet there! I wouldn’t even shake hands with anyone!
7. I would wash my hands as often as possible or, in the absence of water, disinfect my hands. So I would definitely take an alcohol-based spray hand sanitizer with me on my trip. I would also grab some disinfecting wet wipes.
8. This may be an overkill, but I’d throw in a few medical masks and a few pairs of disposable rubber gloves. For everything, if anything
9. And what I would definitely do – before getting on the plane, in order not to get into an unenviable situation, I would DEFINITELY find the latest information on the internet about the epidemiological situation in that country and whether there are any control or restriction measures applied to those entering it. By the way, temperatures of travelers have started to be measured at air and sea ports in some countries, and public health officials are contacting them regularly.
10. And the very last thing – if I sometimes felt sick during or after the trip or suspected that I had contact with a possibly sick person – I would immediately try to contact a dermatovenerologist.
But knowing that in many places it is possible to see them only after a few months, I knocked on the door of my excellent family doctor without waiting for anything.
That’s it. I hope it will be useful to someone”, R. Lingienė concluded the post.
2024-08-20 18:00:37